News Release

Monday, March 22, 2004

One Dead, Three Injured Outside an El Torito Restaurant

"One Dead, Three Injured Outside an El Torito Restaurant"

Los Angeles: On Thursday, March 18, 2004, at around 11:50 p.m., Devonshire Area uniformed patrol Police Officers Hamed Mohammadi and Phillip Sikorski, both with about 1 ½ years with the Department, were assigned a special detail monitoring a large party at the El Torito Restaurant located at 8855 Tampa Avenue. At approximately 11:55 p.m., the officers saw a large group of people running from the building when they heard what sounded like gunshots from inside the restaurant.

The officers saw 20 year-old Robert Holt, in a parking lot that jointly served the El Torito and a Sizzler Restaurant. Suspect Holt was armed and fired several rounds from a handgun into a crowd and ran away while pointing the weapon at other people and officers in the area. To protect the lives of people and the officers, Officer Russell Greybill, 14 years with the Department, fired one round at Suspect Holt with his service urban police rifle, striking him. Holt was taken into custody without further incident. He was transported to a local hospital where he received medical treatment for his injury. The suspect’s weapon, a .38 caliber revolver, was recovered at the scene.

Officers also found two men in vehicles parked in front of the Sizzler Restaurant. Both had been shot. The victims have been identified as Salvador Vejerano, 28 years of age and Victor Gudino, 22 years of age, both residents of Los Angeles. A third gunshot victim, Dominique Wade, an 18 year old man, was found on the pavement in the parking lot of the restaurant and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective Katz or Detective Soler of Robbery Homicide Division at 213-485-2531. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

This news release was prepared by Public Information Officer Sara Faden, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.